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The Pacific is biologically unique, as its isolated islands provide ideal conditions for the evolution of new species. Thus, Pacific islands have high numbers of "endemic"species - species that are restricted to only one or a few islands and found nowhere else in the world.

Climate change is one of the most serious threats to sustainable development and to the very survival of Pacific Island Countries and communities. In 2007 the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders reiterated their deep concern over this serious and growing threat to the economic, social and environmental well being of Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), their communities, peoples and cultures. They have been calling on the international community to take concerted action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere since 1990. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 4th Assessment Report shows unequivocally that climate change is occurring and that it is very likely caused by human actions. Adaptation to climate change is now an inevitable requirement, as the Earth begins responding to greenhouse gases already emitted. In this regard the Leaders recognized the special concerns and interests of the small low lying island countries on the adverse implications of climate change, in particular sea level rise. The Leaders welcomed the guidance from the IPCC that it is physically and economically feasible to mitigate climate change and that with concerted international support, adaptation can also succeed. Conversely, without serious action, the global economy and the fragile resources of the Pacific will be severely affected.

This article is a study on the dietary shift of black rats on Surprise Island, New Caledonia and their impact on the ecosystem in the presence and absence of breeding seabirds.

Buffer zones are an important tool for conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. All along the history of implementation of the World Heritage Convention, the protection of the "surroundings" of inscribed properties was considered an essential component of the conservation strategy, for cultural and natural sites alike.

The initiative supports environment and health actors working together to address issues of common concern. Traditionally, health and environment sectors have acted independently of one another, each in defined domains. While much can and has been achieved, HELI aims to add a further dimension by focusing specifically on the large and important range of decisions which cannot be taken by one sector alone – and require a coordinated approach.

There is much debate surrounding the impact of feral cats (Felis catus) on wildlife. Conservancies areusually areas where indigenous flora and fauna are protected and aliens excluded or managed. The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Howard College campus (HCC) is an urban conservancy containing feral cats that are presently not managed, and little is known about their ecology and behaviour. Consequently a feral cat population census was conducted, and their home range investigated. Estimates of the overall campus feral cat population numbers ranged between 23.4–40.0 cats/km2 with a minimum of 55 identified as resident. They were not randomly distributed in the study area, with spacing patterns being related to resource availability. Home range area and core distribution of eight radio-collared cats were determined over 13 months. Total home range areas were relatively small, with considerable overlap between them. Home ranges were clustered in areas with permanent feeding stations and these were also within the cats’ core ranges. Supplemental food resources appear to have a major influence on numbers, home and core range area, and behavior of cats. It is clear that cat densities grow to high levels with reliable and abundant food supply and only ad hoc sterilization. This has implications for their management in the HCC urban conservancy.

This nomination document is to support the recommendation made in 1989 by the Solomon Island Government that World Heritage listing be pursued for Lake Tegano on East Rennell in Rennell and Bellona Province and for Marovo Lagoon in the Western Province. The New Zealand Government was invited to be the sponsor country to enable the Solomon Islands to become a State Party to the World Heritage Convention and to assist with the procedures for listing. In 1992 the Solomon Islands became a member of the Convention

The Afulilo Hydro Power Augmentarion Project was designed specifically to assist with the Upolu power sysrem stability. Demand for energy has been growing in line with grcwth in maximum demand and, while the Afulilo scheme is producing more energy than anticipated, the sustainable enery outflow of the present scheme is limited by warer inflows, reservoir storage volume and insralled geneftrtion capacity. Because the Afulilo scheme is rhe only hydro scheme in Samoa with carry over storage, augmentation of the Afulilo scheme is panicularly important to increase dry season capaclry to reduce the amounr of installed diesel capaciry ro reduce overall fuel consump tion and to lessen th" dry season peak in fuel consumption.